August’s Employee Spotlight of the Month: Speech Language Pathologist Bree Lanham
Join us as we pay tribute to our incredible staff through “The Employee Spotlight of the Month!” Every month, we will spotlight a new employee so that we can share with the community the wonderful things our employees are doing every day!
Congratulations to Bree Lanham, our Employee Spotlight for the month of August!
Bree has been a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) for 15 years. Bree began her career as an SLP in outpatient clinics and schools and then transitioned to an SLP in the Early Invention (EI) department at the BCBDD 2 years ago.
“Working at the Board has been so special,” Bree said. “I’ve gotten to know so many families in the community and learned so much about what Butler County does to support individuals with different abilities. I love the tech initiatives that the board supports and how much they encourage employees to bring their unique abilities and problem-solving skills to each family they support. I also appreciate the continued support for ongoing education to help me become the best SLP that I can be for my families.”
Bree firmly believes that SLPs are so vital to the DD community because they are in the position to provide families with strategies to increase communication in their homes.
“I can’t think of a more rewarding position at the Board than helping a family hear their child’s voice for the first time or providing their child with a tool to communicate or helping a family understand what their child is already communicating,” Bree said. “Our job is so rewarding and there is never a dull moment!”
Bree says one her favorite parts about being an SLP is collaborating with Developmental Specialists, Physical Therapists, and Occupational Therapists in the EI department.
“Each specialty brings something unique to the families we work with, and I learn so much from our collaboration,” Bree said. “One of the best memories I have is collaborating with a PT to help a family and child use an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device in their wheelchair and throughout various parts of their day. The wide range of experience and knowledge in our early intervention department is inspiring!”
In 2022, when Bree started with the BCBDD Bree she recognized the need for AAC devices, which are devices that encompass the communication methods used to supplement or replace speech or writing for those with impairments in the production or comprehension of spoken or written language, in the BCBDD EI program and as a result of her efforts, the EI department procured several iPads with five apps (Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, TD Snap, Snap Scene and Cough Drop) to use for expressive communication. The iPads are available through a budding lending library for EI families to now learn the possibilities of what is out there and how AAC devices can help their child develop and grow to the best of their potential.
“The Board has always been a supportive place to work and has helped our SLP team to acquire 12 iPads with various communication apps to support our vision for providing AAC to early intervention families,” Bree said. “These devices are sometimes the gateway to getting children to communicate with their family and peers and sets them up for success as they move on to preschool. We have provided permanent AAC devices (talking devices) to over 20 families by helping them navigate the AAC assessment process while working with health insurance companies to fund these permanent devices.”
Bree’s work on getting AAC devices implemented into the BCBDD EI program has made a huge difference in Kasey Davis’ life, whose son Connor is using an AAC device to model language.
“Having access to the device has been amazing for our family,” said Kasey. “It’s allowed our son to explore expressive communication in new ways we didn’t think was possible. Although we are still learning the different apps, he’s picking it up quickly and is engaged when using it. Having a ‘tailor made’ device that we can customize to our needs has made the experience even better. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to work with the program and use the device as a tool for our son.”
Sarah Silva, Early Intervention Team Supervisor, said Bree is a go-getter and is always on the lookout for the newest and best ways to serve the families in EI.
“She has gone above and beyond in her role by providing AAC supports to staff on all 3 EI teams and has been working on her PLAY Project Consultant certification in order to better serve children with social communication difficulties,” Sarah said. “A SLP through an outside provider recently reported to us that she’s working with Bree and a family who they both serve and she said, ‘Bree provided me with great information and was so kind in her e-mail! Not only do our values and therapy techniques greatly align, her generosity and willingness to collaborate was appreciated. In this world, it is nice to have communication with other professionals who share the same goal – to help children get their voice out into the world.’ Bree is willing to help anyone and is an outstanding member of the EI team!”
Read all about Bree’s work on implementing AAC devices in the BCBDD EI department!
Is there someone from the BDBDD that has changed you and your family’s lives? Submissions for September’s Employee Spotlight of the Month are due by Monday, September 2!